PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has granted conditional pardon to 10 detained consultants of the National Democratic Front (NDF), Malacañang announced on Friday ahead of the resumption of peace talks with communist rebels. Both parties decided to push through with the fifth round of peace talks after it was cancelled in May. Duterte first set this condition and three others in April, shortly before the fourth round of peace negotiations. In his first year in office, President Duterte ordered the release of at least 24 jailed rebels. Last May 25, Rep. Ariel Casilao of Anakpawis party-list said the Makabayan bloc’s alliance with the Duterte administration rested heavily on the peace talks between the government and the NDF.

Source: Manila Times July 07, 2017 16:18 UTC